ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Novel immune cell population may trigger inflammation in multiple sclerosis and other brain disorders

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:39 PM PST

A group of immune cells that normally protect against inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract may have the opposite effect in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain inflammation-related conditions, according to a new study. The results suggest that countering the activity of these cells could be a new therapeutic approach for such conditions.

Researchers develop model for treating HIV/AIDS, depression

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 01:20 PM PST

With a shortage of mental health professionals, an international team trained nurses to treat clinically depressed HIV-positive people in South Africa -- the HIV/AIDS capital of the world.

Eye imaging technology breaks through skin by crossing beams

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 01:20 PM PST

Biomedical engineers have demonstrated a method for increasing the depth at which optical coherence tomography (OCT) can image structures beneath skin. The new 'dual-axis' approach opens new possibilities for OCT to be used in applications such as spotting skin cancer, assessing burn damage and healing progress, and guiding surgical procedures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and artificial intelligence (AI) can detect early signs of tumor cell death after novel therapy

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 12:01 PM PST

A recent study demonstrates that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to detect early signs of tumor cell death in response to a novel virus-based cancer therapy.

Compound shows promise for minimizing erratic movements in Parkinson’s patients

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 12:01 PM PST

A new study has identified a promising drug candidate to minimize uncontrolled, erratic muscle movements, called dyskinesia, associated with Parkinson's disease.

New way of identifying early risk of cardiovascular disease

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 11:53 AM PST

The risk of developing cardiovascular disease is strongly associated with 'bad' LDL cholesterol. A large study now shows that two proteins that transport cholesterol particles in the blood provide early and reliable risk information. The researchers now advocate introducing new guidelines for detecting cardiac risk and say the results may pave the way for early treatment, which could help lower morbidity and fatality rates.

Targeting the brain’s immune cells may help prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 11:53 AM PST

A gene mutation linked to Alzheimer's disease alters a signaling pathway in certain immune cells of individuals with the disease, according to a new study. The team also found that blocking the pathway -- with a drug that's currently being tested in cancer clinical trials -- protects against many features of the condition in a preclinical model. The results could lead to new strategies to block the development of Alzheimer's disease or slow its progression.

Effectiveness of ointment that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria shown

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 11:53 AM PST

New research shows that use of a topical drug, called AB569, a combination of acidified nitrite and EDTA (or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) promotes killing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria while enhancing the healing of wounds in a variety of burn injuries.

Research reveals new evidence that sugary beverage tax impacts are sustainable, effective

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 11:53 AM PST

Two new studies based in Seattle provide evidence that public policies to reduce consumption of added sugars through taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages are effective and sustainable.

Within an Antarctic sea squirt, scientists discover a bacterial species with promising anti-melanoma properties

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 10:36 AM PST

Biologists have successfully traced a naturally-produced melanoma-fighting compound called 'palmerolide A' to its source: a microbe that resides within Synoicum adareanum, a species of ascidian common to the waters of Antarctica's Anvers Island archipelago.

Researchers identify key RNA 'gatekeeper' in gene expression, pointing to possible new drug targets

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 09:43 AM PST

Researchers have identified the first non-coding RNA that controls formation of chromosome loops, which govern gene expression. Jpx RNA was previously thought to be involved only in X chromosome inactivation, a necessary step in development of female embryos. This discovery could create new targets for drug developers.

Unorthodox 'exercise in a pill' could offer simple solution for at-risk patients

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:19 AM PST

Unique molecular signals in the body sent to our brain and potentially our eyes immediately after we exercise could be key to helping scientists 'bottle up' the benefits of exercise in a pill for at-risk patients.

Parental stress is a contributing factor linking maternal depression to child anxiety and depressive symptoms

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:19 AM PST

A secondary analysis of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (Fragile Families) found a bi-directional relationship where a mother's mental health symptoms impacted the child's mental health symptoms and vice versa, according to researchers.

Footprints from site a at Laetoli, Tanzania, are from early humans, not bears

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:19 AM PST

The oldest unequivocal evidence of upright walking in the human lineage are footprints discovered at Laetoli, Tanzania in 1978, by paleontologist Mary Leakey and her team. The bipedal trackways date to 3.7 million years ago. Another set of mysterious footprints was partially excavated at nearby Site A in 1976 but dismissed as possibly being made by a bear. A recent re-excavation of the Site A footprints at Laetoli and a detailed comparative analysis reveal that the footprints were made by an early human -- a bipedal hominin.

The diabetes medication that could revolutionize heart failure treatment

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:52 AM PST

A medication originally used for patients with diabetes is the first to help people with heart failure and could revolutionize treatment. Early research had shown that SGLT2 inhibitors could help around half of heart failure patients -- those with a condition known as reduction ejection fraction. But a new study shows that the medication could be beneficial for all heart failure patients -- including those with a second type of heart failure called preserved ejection fraction.

Study links high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease to plastics

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:51 AM PST

In a mouse study, a team led by a biomedical scientist found a phthalate -- a chemical used to make plastics more durable -- led to increased plasma cholesterol levels.

Coffee time: Caffeine improves reaction to moving targets

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:51 AM PST

In the first study of its kind to explore caffeine's effects on dynamic visual skills, researchers concluded that caffeine increases alertness and detection accuracy for moving targets. Caffeine also improved participants' reaction times.

Why cannabis smells skunky

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:51 AM PST

As cannabis is legalized in more areas, it has become increasingly popular as a medicinal and recreational drug. This plant produces a pungent, skunk-like odor that is pleasing to some but repulsive to others. Now, researchers have discovered a new family of prenylated volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) that give cannabis its characteristic skunky aroma. The findings open up opportunities to investigate the molecules for medicinal benefits, the researchers say.

MRI reveals altered brain structure in fetuses exposed to alcohol

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:51 AM PST

In the first MRI-based study to investigate pre-natal alcohol exposure, researchers found significant changes in the brain structure of fetuses exposed to alcohol compared to healthy controls.

In children with multiple sclerosis, teriflunomide tempers lesion growth

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 02:40 PM PST

A phase 3 clinical trial tested the safety and efficacy of teriflunomide, an oral immunomodulatory drug, in children with multiple sclerosis. Although the medication did not prevent disease relapses to a greater extent than placebo, the option for some patients to switch from placebo to teriflunomide before the end of the trial likely biased the results against treatment efficacy. The drug appeared to reduce the number of new or enlarged lesions that are detected through MRI.

Altered DNA repair and DNA damage in neurodegenerative conditions

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 02:39 PM PST

Researchers have confirmed a link between altered DNA repair and increased DNA damage associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7), a debilitating, sometimes deadly neurodegenerative condition causing movement disorders. Their work also revealed a potential therapeutic target for the currently incurable and difficult to treat condition.

Synthetic tissue can repair hearts, muscles, and vocal cords

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 12:04 PM PST

Combining knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, scientists from McGill University develop a biomaterial tough enough to repair the heart, muscles, and vocal cords, representing a major advance in regenerative medicine.

High-speed holography of cells spots physical beacons of disease

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 12:04 PM PST

Biomedical engineers have engineered a holographic system capable of imaging and analyzing tens of thousands of cells per minute to both discover and recognize signs of disease.

Discovery of a Stem-like T cell in type 1 diabetes holds potential for improving cancer immunotherapy

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 11:15 AM PST

As an autoimmune disease, Type 1 diabetes raises important questions about immune cell activity that have broad implications for immunotherapy.

Biosensor barcodes identify, detail ‘chatting’ among cancer cells

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 10:02 AM PST

Ever since the first barcode appeared on a pack of chewing gum in 1974, the now-ubiquitous system has enabled manufacturers, retailers and consumers to quickly and effectively identify, characterize, locate and track products and materials. Scientists now demonstrate how they can do the same thing at the molecular level, studying the ways cancer cells 'talk' with one another.

Ubiquitous food additive alters human microbiota and intestinal environment

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 10:02 AM PST

New clinical research indicates that a widely used food additive, carboxymethylcellulose, alters the intestinal environment of healthy persons, perturbing levels of beneficial bacteria and nutrients. These findings demonstrate the need for further study of the long-term impacts of this food additive on health.

3D printing of blood plasma may speed up wound healing

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 08:25 AM PST

New research suggests that effective wound healing may be aided by replicating a crucial component of our blood.

Successful treatment in mice for severe childhood cancer

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 08:25 AM PST

In mice with high-risk neuroblastoma, tumors disappeared in response to a new combination treatment with precision medicines, a recent study shows. This is a vital step toward a potentially curative treatment for a form of cancer affecting young children that is currently difficult to treat.

Distortion: Researchers discover new strategy for antibodies to disable viruses

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 08:25 AM PST

It is widely understood that antibodies neutralize viruses by latching onto their surfaces and blocking them from infecting host cells. But new research reveals that this barrier method isn't the only way that antibodies disable viruses. An international team of researchers has discovered that antibodies also distort viruses, thereby preventing them from properly attaching to and entering cells.

Scientists can control brain circuits, behavior, and emotion using light

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 08:25 AM PST

Scientists can control brain circuits, behavior, and emotion using light. Researchers developed a new optogenetic tool, 'Opto-vTrap', which is expected to contribute to treatment for epilepsy, muscle spasms, and skin wrinkles.

Global HIV viral suppression rates too low among children and adolescents

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:15 AM PST

An analysis in the lead up to World AIDS Day reveals that HIV is 'virally suppressed' in only 59 per cent of children and adolescents on treatment.

Aerogels: Airy and efficient

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

Researchers have developed a new photocatalyst made from an aerogel that could enable more efficient hydrogen production. The key is sophisticated pretreatment of the material.

Reduced meat diet has many advantages

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

Which diet is better: moderately reduce meat consumption and eat more fruit, vegetables and wholegrain products or eating more fish and seafood? Or even switch completely to a vegan diet? A new study shows that the answer to these questions is not as clear-cut as one might think -- depending on which impacts one closely looks.

Breakthrough tool to show how much exoskeletons reduce back injury risk

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

A study reveals a breakthrough tool to assess the effect of exoskeletons on injury risk. The tool, called Exo-LiFFT, is an interactive calculator that will help companies looking for ways to overcome workforces struggling with musculoskeletal injuries, missed work, and accelerated retirement amongst skilled laborers.

Nonverbal social interactions – even with unfriendly avatars – boost cooperation

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

Scientists used animated humanoid avatars to study how nonverbal cues influence people's behavior. The research offers insight into the brain mechanisms that drive social and economic decision-making.

Cell types of the iris in mice

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

Researchers report they have genetically mapped the cell types that make up the mouse iris -- the thin disc of pigmented tissue that, in humans, gives eyes their distinct colors.

Correcting inherited gene alterations speeds up

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

Researchers have developed a method to precisely and rapidly correct genetic alterations in the cultured patient cells.

Courting success: Why the 'head' outsmarts the body in basketball

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:14 AM PST

A new study reveals why coaches believe 'game intelligence,' work ethic and competitiveness are far more important than physical fitness in determining success on the basketball court.

Potential new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease would be relatively cheap

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:12 AM PST

Researchers have discovered a protein involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Studies in mice showed that eliminating this protein entirely or using drugs to block its function reduced physical changes in the brain associated with the disease and improved memory. Drug therapy that aims to block the protein's activity could be a more effective treatment than what is currently available, as well as being cheaper.

Early interventions could help counteract muscle loss

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 05:43 AM PST

Weakening muscles are a natural part of the aging process, but for some people with a condition called sarcopenia the decline is abnormally fast. A new study suggests that the early stages of sarcopenia could be counteracted with timely interventions designed to preserve physical and cognitive function and manage chronic conditions.

Researchers model circadian clock neurons in a day-active animal

Posted: 30 Nov 2021 05:42 AM PST

It's no secret that jet lag and night-shift work can wreak havoc on the way our body's internal clock syncs up our daily wake-sleep cycle, known as circadian rhythm, but now researchers say they are a step closer to understanding how the brain creates behavioral rhythms optimized for diurnal, rather than nocturnal, life.

Rates of type 2 diabetes are higher in people with one of various common psychiatric disorders

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 06:28 PM PST

A new study finds that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is elevated in people with a psychiatric disorder compared with the general population.

Telehealth-delivered diet and exercise program eased knee pain and triggered weight loss

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 02:27 PM PST

Combined diet and exercise Telehealth program saw 80 per cent of participants experience reduced knee pain with an average weight loss of approximately 10.2 per cent.

Artificial intelligence that understands object relationships

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:51 PM PST

Researchers developed a machine learning model that understands the underlying relationships between objects in a scene and can generate accurate images of scenes from text descriptions.

Heart repair and regeneration after a heart attack

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:51 PM PST

Twenty years ago, clinicians first attempted to regenerate a failing human heart by injecting muscle myoblasts into the heart during a bypass operation. Despite high initial hopes and multiple experimental and clinical studies since then, outcomes have been neutral or marginally positive for a wide variety of attempts to remuscularize an injured heart. Yet hope remains that current and future strategies will yield clinical regenerative heart therapies, experts explain.

De-cluttering may not help people with dementia

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:50 PM PST

A clutter-free environment may not help people with dementia carry out daily tasks -- according to a new study. Researchers studied whether people with dementia were better able to carry out tasks, such as making a cup of tea, at home - surrounded by their usual clutter - or in a clutter-free environment. They were surprised to find that participants with moderate dementia performed better when surrounded by their usual clutter.

Which side is which? How the brain perceives borders

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:50 PM PST

Researchers have made headway into understanding how the brain decides which side of a visual border is a foreground object and which is background. The research has sheds light on how areas of the brain communicate to interpret sensory information and build a picture of the world around us.

Which glioblastoma patients will respond to immunotherapy?

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:50 PM PST

Scientists have discovered a new biomarker to identify which patients with brain tumors called glioblastomas -- the most common and malignant of primary brain tumors -- might benefit from immunotherapy. The treatment could extend survival for an estimated 20% to 30% of patients. Currently, patients with glioblastoma do not receive this life-prolonging treatment because it has not been fully understood which of them could benefit.

Steam disinfection of baby bottle nipples exposes babies and the environment to micro- and nanoplastic particles

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:50 PM PST

Using a new microspectroscopic technique, scientists have found that steam disinfection of silicone-rubber baby bottle nipples exposes babies and the environment to micro- and nanoplastic particles.

'Transformational' approach to machine learning could accelerate search for new disease treatments

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 12:50 PM PST

Researchers have developed a new approach to machine learning that 'learns how to learn' and out-performs current machine learning methods for drug design, which in turn could accelerate the search for new disease treatments.

How obesity damages the skeletal muscle metabolism

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 09:28 AM PST

A decline in metabolism and endurance of skeletal muscle is commonly observed in obese patients, but the underlying mechanism is not well-understood. A research team uncovers a new mechanism to explain how obesity jeopardizes the functions of skeletal muscle and provides a potential treatment against the disease.

Parallels in human, dog oral tumors could speed new therapies

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 09:28 AM PST

Recent research compared the genetic expression profiles of a nonlethal canine tumor and the rare, devastating human oral tumor it resembles, laying the groundwork for potential translational medicine down the road.

Potential new therapeutic pathway to clear chronic viral infections

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 09:28 AM PST

A recent study in mice has uncovered that during chronic viral infection, a protein called BMI-1 gets turned on too early in B cells and messes up the delicate balance of gene expression, resulting in antibodies that are unsuccessful in their endeavor to clear the virus from the body.

Getting the most therapeutic potential out of cells

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 09:27 AM PST

A simple change in the way donor cells are processed can maximize a single cell's production of extracellular vesicles, which are small nanoparticles naturally secreted by cells, according to new research.

Farmers spread Transeurasian languages

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 09:27 AM PST

New research provides interdisciplinary support for the 'Farming Hypothesis' of language dispersal, tracing Transeurasian languages back to the first farmers moving across Northeast Asia beginning in the Early Neolithic -- roughly between 8-10 thousand years ago.

A tough attachment between rotator cuff, bone achieved through unique fibrous architecture

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 07:57 AM PST

Researchers used a novel imaging technique and discovered a previously unknown fibrous architecture between the rotator cuff tendons and their bony attachments in the shoulder.

Scientists discover potential cause of Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 07:56 AM PST

In people with brain buildups, a key but difficult-to-detect difference in the form of tau protein allows scientists to distinguish people showing no outward signs of dementia from those who do.

Study reveals a protein’s key contribution to heterogeneity of neurons

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 07:56 AM PST

Tomosyn's tight regulation of neurotransmitter release distinguishes functions of two neuron classes at the fly neuromuscular junction, incluiding their ability to engage in a form of plasticity

Method to reveal undesired biological effects of chemicals

Posted: 29 Nov 2021 07:56 AM PST

How do pollutants and other chemicals that we are exposed to affect our health? Researchers have applied a method to identify the proteins in the body affected by chemicals. The method can be used to discover at an early stage whether a substance has biological effects in an organism.